No doubt emotions will be high when they step in the cage Saturday night in the Bellator co-main event at The Forum.

The happy-go-lucky Lima (29-6) will be looking to bag his biggest name to date during his second 170-pound reign in Bellator.

“For me, every fight is the biggest, but this one is a little more special,” the 30-year-old Brazilian said. “Big guy. Been wanting to fight a guy like him for a long time. This is my shot. I can’t wait.”
Rory MacDonald during the Bellator 192 Open Media Workouts at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2017. (Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

MacDonald (19-4) comes with a lot of star power after his violent six-year run in the UFC in which he went 9-4 with three Fight of the Night honors and an unforgettably bloody 2015 title-fight loss to Robbie Lawler.

They don’t call him “The Red King” for nothing.

Lima knows what a victory over the Canadian star would look like on his resume.

“He’s got a big following. He’s a lot more known for sure. This is gonna be a chance to put a stamp on it that I belong at the top of this division,” Lima said.

The stone-faced MacDonald will be looking for his first taste of gold since his King of the Cage Canada days nearly 10 years ago.

Since leaving the UFC and signing with Bellator in the summer of 2016, MacDonald debuted with a second-round rear-naked choke of heavy-handed Paul Daley at Bellator 179 in May.

He says he is confident coming into this fight.

“This is the moment that you dream about as a fighter – to be a world champion,” MacDonald, 28, said. “Lima is a world-class competitor, even though he’s never fought in the UFC, I could see him competing against a champion in the UFC any day. I took this fight very serious. I trained very hard for this and I’m ready to take what’s mine.”
Rory MacDonald during the Bellator 192 Open Media Workouts at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2017. (Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Some are speculating, while the UFC can boast champion Tyron Woodley and his three title defenses since knocking out Lawler in the first round in 2016, Saturday’s winner could lay claim to the title of world’s greatest welterweight champion.

MacDonald, who owns a unanimous-decision victory over Woodley in 2014, likes the sound of that.

“Yeah, I mean I already beat the other one, so just gotta take this one,” he said. “I think, with the right performance, I think it will be a clear picture in people’s minds who’s best.”

Former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen, who in the Bellator 192 main event is fighting Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in the Heavyweight Grand Prix opener, is leaning toward a MacDonald victory but sees it as a tremendous opportunity for Lima.

Sonnen says for as much as Woodley gripes about being overlooked, Lima might have a greater claim.

“Rory is so good, but Douglas is the champion and he’s the most slighted champion I’ve ever seen. All the stuff Tyron Woodley says really happens to Lima,” Sonnen said. “He’s a nice guy and the only thing coming out of his mouth is a smile. Never any curse words. Because he’s such a gentleman, people overlook him. It happened to Georges St-Pierre too. It’s the nature of the sport.

“I think its a big coming out party for him. I think he can lose that fight and still show his skills and make people go, ‘Wow, I get it now. You’re really good.'”

MacDonald is not only known for his seemingly emotionless and effortless style, he has as well-rounded an arsenal as any in the division.

But Lima, who said he is expecting to finish MacDonald, knows how to change that.
Douglas Lima works with boxing coach Alain Felipe during the Bellator 192 Open Media Workouts at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2017. (Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“Just hit him hard from the first second. Hit him as hard as I can,” Lima said. “Gonna change all the plans that he has.”